Guest Column: One more opinion in favor of killing off Sound Off

I totally agree with Jeff Campbell, but perhaps for a different reason.

I was a columnist for this newspaper in the 1990’s and subsequently was a public official in Glenolden Borough. I have from time to time submitted letters such as this to the Daily Times and other news outlets. I always found it bizarre that considerable efforts are made to identify and verify the author of a letter to the editor and yet anyone can post in Sound Off with complete anonymity.

Anyone who has encountered a rude or obscene comment or gesture while driving a car knows that the other person derives a certain comfort level in being so rude or obscene because you don’t know who they are. I believe that Sound Off allows them to do the same.

I have been the recipient of comments in Sound Off that were completely wrong and apparently drafted by someone in my town. I was completely unable to walk up to them and correct their mistake. At a public meeting citiizens are always required to identify themselves before making comments.

I wonder how many folks to whom Jeff Campbell refers would be comfortable “saying” these things if they knew that someone could look them in the eye and challenge it.

I think recent events demonstrate in many ways that our democracy is quite broken and if there is going to be the necessary repairs done it will require reasoned discussion and compromise, which are at the very base of this government as conceived and executed. Allowing anonymous vitriol is not likely to move that process along.